Earlier this week, the Xbox 360 community reported what it
believed to be security
breaches in Microsoft’s Xbox Live service, leading to stolen accounts and
credit card numbers. Microsoft quickly issued an official response telling all
that it is “actively investigating all reports of fraudulent behavior and
theft” and “any customer with a question about the security of their Xbox LIVE
account should contact 1-800-4-MY-Xbox….”

Larry Hryb, perhaps better known as “Major Nelson,” writes in
his semi-official Xbox Live blog that there isn’t anything to be worried about.
“Despite some recent reports and speculation, I want to reassure all of our 6
million Xbox Live members that we have looked into the situation and found no
evidence of any compromise of the security of the Xbox Live Network or
Bungie.net,” reads his entry.

Hryb does not deny the claims of Xbox Live users who have
had their information stolen, but says the reports of fraud are not a result of
a security breach. “There have been a few isolated incidents where malicious
users have been attempting to draw personal information from unsuspecting users
and use it to gain access to their Live account,” writes Hryb, without any
further details on how those few isolated incidents occurred.

Meanwhile, Kevin Finisterre continues to update his website with
ongoing complaints regarding his Xbox Live account. New additions to
Finisterre’s site are a list of known “victims” plus a recorded phone
conversation with an Xbox Live customer service representative who confirms the
growing number of incidences of supposedly compromised accounts.

In assumingly unrelated news, Xbox Live will be undergoing
scheduled maintenance on Tuesday, March 27 from midnight to 2 p.m. Pacific
Time. As a result of this maintenance, Xbox Live, Xbox.com and the Xbox forums
will be unavailable during this time.

"Google fired a shot heard 'round the world, and now a second American company has answered the call to defend the rights of the Chinese people." -- Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.)